Chapter Nineteen: The Strange Fall on Flat Ground

“Let’s go.” Xiao Xiao took the lead and stepped away, a hint of regret lingering in his heart. If only he had brought the black notebook along, then he could have identified what kind of spirit that was.

He glanced back once more. Amid the fiery crimson maple leaves, the creature almost blended seamlessly into the tree itself, only its azure beak betraying its presence.

And then, there was the vividly colored tail feather dangling from the branches.

The fine down gleamed under the morning sunlight, dazzling and exquisite beyond words.

Unintentionally, Xiao Xiao met the creature’s gaze. Its glassy eyes reflected a faint rosy hue, turning slightly with an eerie stiffness.

For some unknown reason, a subtle smile curved Xiao Xiao’s lips. Perhaps it was the faint, mist-like innocence and curiosity shimmering in the spirit’s eyes.

Or maybe it was simply the joy of encountering such a strange and beautiful spirit in the early morning amidst the endless sea of maples on Fragrant Mountain—a delightfully unexpected experience.

It evoked a curious sense of temporal displacement, as if stepping into the pages of an ancient tale.

…

Xiao Xiao and his companions whiled away the entire morning on Fragrant Mountain.

By the time they descended, the peculiar and lovely spirit was nowhere to be seen on that maple tree. Xiao Xiao deliberately searched the vicinity but found nothing.

A twinge of disappointment was inevitable.

Yet, the thought that he could summon this spirit at will with the black notebook quickly erased that feeling.

…

Halfway down the mountain, Xiao Xiao cast his gaze far ahead. The sky had long since brightened, each maple leaf shimmering as if coated with a thin layer of oil, glossy and translucent, radiating a soft, lingering brilliance.

Suddenly, the faint sounds of commotion drifted from ahead.

Taking a few more steps and rounding a bend, their view suddenly opened up to reveal a large crowd gathered, pointing and whispering among themselves, their words indistinct.

Gradually, snatches of conversation reached them.

“Serves him right, who told him…”

“…the mountain deity has shown its power…”

“Is this for real? That guy’s about to become famous.”

…

Xiao Xiao and his friends edged closer. The dense mass of heads obscured what was really happening.

Zhuge Yun nudged the young man beside him, a bespectacled fellow.

“Hey, brother, what’s going on? Why’s everyone gathered here?”

Before the glasses-wearing man could answer, a middle-aged man with a large belly—who had been straining on tiptoe to see inside—turned around and launched into an enthusiastic, almost breathless explanation.

“This story’s a bit uncanny,” the middle-aged man said, waving his hands emphatically, his voice tinged with mystery and excitement.

“The guy inside, well, he’s got no manners. You see this beautiful Fragrant Mountain and these gorgeous maples, and yet he dares to damage them?”

“Even if you’re in a bad mood, you can’t just take it out on the trees, right?” The man seemed to have found his audience and couldn’t stop himself from speaking, his tone rich and expressive, almost like a storyteller.

Zhuge Yun listened, feeling increasingly restless. Couldn’t he just get to the point?

The main point, please!

…

After much talk, the crowd still hadn’t grasped exactly what had happened, only that someone had damaged the trees.

But if that was all there was to it, why the huge gathering?

Had people really gotten this bored?

…

Finally, the bespectacled man couldn’t hold back. Seizing a pause in the middle-aged man’s speech, he smoothly interjected with a look of innocent certainty.

He succinctly explained the incident.

Apparently, a young man had quarreled with his girlfriend and, in a fit of bad temper, kicked the maple tree several times, broke many branches, and even peeled off some bark.

Someone who witnessed this scolded him, only to be snapped back at by the young man, nearly leading to a fight.

Naturally, other tourists kept their distance from this madman.

But then something strange happened.

Though the young man had left alone, he inexplicably stumbled and fell.

One fall might be an accident, but falling repeatedly along the way on flat ground was truly suspicious.

Now furious, the young man was cursing loudly in the center of the crowd, his insults as harsh as one could imagine.

…

“Why bother?” the middle-aged man sighed. “He was clearly in the wrong. It’s understandable for young folks to be hot-headed and impulsive, but that doesn’t excuse such nonsense.”

“Look, even heaven can’t stand it now.”

“Really?” Zhuge Yun was dumbfounded.

“It’s no joke. With so many people watching, he really can’t take a single step without falling. It’s like he’s cursed.”

“Damn it!” Zhuge Yun swore under his breath.

Zhang Bo and Zhao Lvzhen were equally stunned, speechless for a moment.

The world truly holds endless wonders.

To stumble upon such a miraculous event was a rare stroke of luck.

They simply had to see it for themselves.

Zhang Bo rolled up his sleeves, took a deep breath, and resolutely pushed into the crowd.

Zhuge Yun and Zhao Lvzhen followed close behind.

“Third Brother, keep up.” Zhao Lvzhen tugged at the dazed Xiao Xiao, his expression tinged with worry. “He’s getting more spaced out by the minute. What are we going to do?”

Xiao Xiao, however, was oblivious to Zhao’s concerns. He had caught the faint scent of a spirit.

At some point, he had developed the ability to discern the presence of spirits by their scent.

Was it from seeing and smelling too many of them?

Xiao Xiao mused absentmindedly, his eyes scanning around as if searching intently for something.

…

True to form, Zhang Bo carved a path through the crowd, leading his roommates to the very front.

There they saw a young man slightly older than themselves, dressed all in designer clothes, clearly from a wealthy family.

Yet he looked utterly disheveled.

His clothes were dusty and grimy, his face marred by numerous scratches.

One could also see his palms bore fresh abrasions.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression that of a trapped beast—tense, restless, resentful, shadowed. Yet within those dark eyes flickered an uncontrollable terror and dread.

Born into privilege, used to getting his way, he had developed a selfish, tyrannical, reckless nature.

Today, he had come with his new girlfriend to see the red maples.

He just didn’t understand what was so special about this mountain of trees.

He couldn’t recall exactly how the argument with his girlfriend started—some trivial matter—but it ended with them parting on bad terms.

His mood was terrible. Getting up early just to see those blasted trees only filled him with anger. He had been trying to hold it in, but once his girlfriend left, the fire in his heart flared uncontrollably.

After venting his fury, he encountered a stroke of bad luck.

The first fall stunned him.

He wasn’t a child; he knew how to walk.

Besides, the path was smooth and even. How could he have just fallen?

At first he thought it was a mere accident, but then he kept falling at every step, all on flat ground.

His face burned with shame. What a disgrace!

This wretched Fragrant Mountain—he truly shouldn’t have come!

As the crowd took notice and whispered among themselves, his face drained of all color, turning pale and pitiful.

Mountain deity? Heavenly punishment?

What era was this?

Besides, what a joke! He hadn’t done anything!

He cursed loudly, though deep down, he could not quell his fear.

Who was it? Who was tormenting him?

A dark, ruthless glint flashed in the young man’s eyes.